Excavating-machine.



O. HETLESAETER.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60-, WASHINGTON. n. c.

O. HETLESAETER.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, m4;

1, 170,905. Patent ed Feb. 8, 1916.

2 -SHEETSS HEE[ 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

. QLAF HETLESLAETERJDE icn rorAeo, r animators.

EXCAYAITIN -M HINE. 1

. To all whom it may concern: I 17 "Be itk nown that I, 01hr HETLESAE'IEER a citizenof the United States, anda resident" of Chicago, in vthe county-of Cook andS'tate 5 of Illinois, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in; Excavating'Ma chines, of Which the following isaspecificaf-p tlon.

My invention relates to "excavating" chines, particularly to that class of selfpropelled machines Which are to be utilized for excavating, ditching and grading purposes. a v

,Ainong the important objects of the in vention are'to provide a "light but ,strong machin'e; to provide means for locking. one of the traction Wheels and for revolving the machine supporting structure about such locked Wheel as a center; to providea boom O pivoted to the vehicle structure and adapted to swing only in a vertical plane but to be carried bodily laterally With the vehicle structureupon revolving of such'structure about-the locked Wheel; to provide improved bucket mechanism and fixed pivot connec- --t1011 thereof, w th the boom fstructure;, to.

provide improved link mechanism for Tcojna trolling the opening and closing" of the bucket and to associate such lmk mechanism with the hoisting rope in such mannerth'at tension applied to the rope W ll first cai 1se closing of the bucketand then raising; of

the boom; to provide improved means for retarding or locking the boom independ ently of the hoisting rope; to 'provlde 1mproved means for adjusting the angle of the bucket vvith reference tothe boom; and in general" to provide a light and strong machine which is capable of heavyfiigging, and Which has a'wide conveying 'andzdump ing range. I v

In the accompanying draiving'sthe vari-.

ous features of the invention are clearlyillustrated, and in these draWing's-- V p Figure 1 is a front elevational view ofan excavating machine embodying the various features, Fig. 2 is a plan vView, Fig. 3 is a sideelevational view. v V

' Referring to the drawings, the supporting. vehicle structure comprises the axle 5 rigidly secured tothe front endlofth'e reach j v L e '5 lar 38 ls'slidable on thedrive shaft between beam structure 6, and to the front end of and Spe a i nett a f ntm Amati-ea sea-same; a iiea-tioaifiiearebmary11,1 914. seria iro. el /{938.

6 avert-ic'a'l steering shaft or post '10 carries theashor-t a'xle' -11 supporting the heelsIQ and 12,-the top of the post *being'conof the'vehicle can-be controlled a's {Will be readily understood/l Y I I Rotatable on the axle 5 but locked to the v r Wheel 8 is 14 carrying a gear vvheel l5, and rotatable on the axlefadjace'nt' the Wheel 91a similarhub'lfi carrying a gear Wheel117 is provided, "the hub {being locked tothe-Wheel. Extending-parallel ith the axle is a drive sha f-tdS journaled in suit-g abfle bearings providedin the structures 6.

and 7 pan-d mounting the driVepiniOns 19v and-20 meshing respectively With the gears 15121 1101 17 on the axle. 'Tlieshaft'ltl-isdi' vided'into two-sections connected a'iwell known manner by 'dlfiBIGIllJIill mechanlsm' mounted in casing 21," the drive pinion 19 being carried on one section and the pinion 20th the other; A sprocket 22 on thexcas ing 2l is shownconnected bya chain 23 With a driving sprocket 24 carried on the drive shaft Q-fi of '"a-suitabledriving source such as *a gasengine 26 'mounted 'on the structure 6.'--' In order "tostrengthen the" .85 shaft"1-8,'bearings are provided therefor in I cross beams-27 and 28 adjacent theidifieren ti-a-l housing and extending between'the axle;

5"a-nd the" beam 29-jcolnnecting the'ima'in" '90" structure ;6 With the structure ,7 f .th' hi'clebody. r .7 v

The axle 5ijustlloutside' the Wheel 83 has rigidly secured thereto ablockBO wvhi'ch rigidly mounts the horizontal-pivot shaft" 31 which is held in such horizontal position by'abracket structure .32 extending from? the vehicle body beam-7. The boom struc ture' 33 pivots at its loWerIe'nd on the shaft f .31, thisboom structure being preferably built up of structural steel-*parts and carries at its upperendcross beams 34and 34:"to' A Whose outer ends suitable clam shell bucket mechanism B is pivoted; ,Mounted onthe' axle between'the Wheel 9 and the vehicle body-structure '6 is a hoisting drum" 35 carrying a gear 36 which meshes with a; drive pinion 37 on drive shaft 18. A clutch 'colthe pinions 377 and 20' and is adapted to cooperate With clutch extensions 37 and 20 respectively 0n"gears37 and 20 in order that either gear'ma y be locked to thedrive shaft The manner in which lateral travel Of'llllG.

42 mounted at the upper end ofa guide, tower 43, passing from thence to. the boom structure and bucketthereon. Upon wind-,.

ing up of the cable on the drum the boom is raised, and the boom is lowered by gravityv upon playing out of the cable from the drum. v V

It will be noted that the boom structure can swing only inthe vertical plane of the axle 5 and that the center of gravity of the boom structure is always in such plane.

boom is effected in order to transport the bucket from its excavating position to its dumping destination constitutes one of the important objects of the invention. T0 accomplish such movement of the boom I provide for locking of the guide wheel 9 against rotation and for effecting propulsion of the wheel 8 to rotate the vehicle body with the boom thereon around the wheel 9- Such bodily movement of the.

as a center. boom together w1th its swinging movement about its pivot shaft will enable the bucket to be carried to any desired location. In order to effect locking of the wheel 9 any suitable mechanism may be provided.

As shown, the wheels 8 and 9 are provided with traction louvers 44 and a detent frame 45 pivoted to the bracket 40 is provided to be swung away from the wheel 9 to allow propulsion or to be moved into locking engagement with the louvers to lock the wheel against rotation. The respective sections of the drive shaft 18 are provided with brake wheels 46 and 47 to be controlled by suitable brake mechanism 48 and 49 respectively, mounted in any suitable manner on the vehicle framework. 1f, now, it is .desired to swing the entire structure around wheel 9, the brake mechanism associated with brake Wheel 47 is actuated to prevent rotation of the shaft section associated with the wheel 9, the wheel 9 being of course blocked by applying the detent 45 thereto. Upon driving of the'differential housing by the engine only the shaft section leading to wheel 8 will rotate and such rotation is transmitted to the drive pinion 19, then to gear 15, and thence to traction wheel 8, the vehicle structure then revolving around Wheel 9 as a center in a direction depending upon the direction of travel of the engine.

When one differential shaft section is blocked the other section will be driven at double speed. In order to give better control of the wheel 8 and to allow slower and more powerful propulson thereof, a smaller drive pinion 50 is provided and secured to the hub 51 which carries the pinion 19 and which-is slidable on the drive shaft. Suitable shifting mechanism52 may be provided on the vehicle framework to effect shift of the hub 51 to either mesh the pinion 19 with gear 15 or to mesh pinion 50 with a gear 53 secured to the hub 14 which is locked to wheel 8 and which carries the gear 15.

When it is desired to hold the vehicle at rest and to operate the hoisting drum, the brake mechanism is applied to brake wheel 46 to allow rotation only of the drive shaft section connected with the hoisting drum, the drum being then rotated as soon as the clutch collar 38 is clutched to the pinion 3t. As will be shown later in the detailed description of the bucket mechanism, the hoisting rope is connected with aclam shell bucket in such a manner that tension on the rope will effect closure of the bucket and slacking of the rope will allow the bucket to open by gravity. 1 therefore provide means forholding the boom independently of the hoisting rope in any position to which it was swung by the hoisting rope or by gravity. Such holding mechanism is in the form of a beam structure 54 which supports at its'ends a rope or cable 55 looped about a brake drum 56 mounted on shaft 57 which is journaled on the standard 58 rising vertically from the axle 5 between the boom and the hoisting rope tower 43. The beam 54 is pivoted at 59 to the boom structure 83. One end ofthe shaft 57 carries a brake wheel 60 engaged by a brake strap 61 whose ends are connected with suitable lever mechanism 62 controllable preferably by a pedal 63. When the boom is to be raised and lowered by operation of the hoisting rope, the pedal is released to free the brake and to allow ready travel of the beam structure 54, and when it is desired to lock the boom in any position the pedal is depressed to lock the brake band to the brake wheel and to lock the beam 54 against movement by virtue of the frictional engagement of the turns of the cable 55 with the drum 56. The movements of the boom can also be controlled by applying more or less braking eii'o'rt to retard the movement of the beam 54 and therefore of the boom. In order to provide a support or guide-way for the structure 54, the construction shown is very efficient. As shown, the structure 54 comprises two' channel beams 54 and 54 held together by plates 54, these channels riding on wheels 64 and 65, secured to the ends of the drum 56, the standard 58 comprising two beams 58 and 58 which support the respective ends of the druinIshaft 57. The

cable. can readily pass about the drum Y between; the wheels 64 and'65,and in order the result being that the bucket is first closed.

to permit of adjusting the'tension of the cable its ends are connected by eye-bolts 66 and 67 with brackets 68 and. 69: extending downwardly from the structure 54.

After the boom has been lowered to bring the open bucket into engagement with the material to be conveyed, the hoisting drum is driven to put tension on the hoisting rope,

and the boom then raised. The pedal 63 is then actuated to effect locking of the beam. 54 and holding of the boom in itsraisedposition independently of the hoisting rope in order that said rope may be slacked to allow opening of the bucketbygravity and dumping of its contents. Release of thedrum to allow the rope to slack is accom plished by unclutching the clutch. 38 from the drum driving pinion 37. If, after rais ing of the boom with the filled bucket it is desired to revolve the vehicle to carry the bucket to its dumping destination, the beam 54 is first locked by depressing the brake pedal to actuate brake mechanism 61, and

7 wheel 8 is then propelled, wheel 9 being of course first locked againstrotation. When thebucket reaches its dumping destination,

the hoisting rope is slacked to allow the bucket to open. volved back to bring the boom intothe vertical excavating plane, the brake mechanism 1 is operated to release the beam 54 more or less to allow the boom to swing down to bring the wheels 12 and 12 at right angles to the line passing through the center of wheel 9 and the steering post 10, such positioning allowing ready rotation of the struc ture. v

Describing now the bucket mechanism B,

this is preferably of the clam shell type, and

one of the important features ofthe inven-, tion resides in fixedly pivoting the bucket halves to the boom structure and in utilizing the boom structure hoisting rope for controlling the opening and closing of the bucket structure have at their sides respectively the extensions 70 70 and 71 71 s the extensions 70 and 71 being pivoted totheir inner endsto the plates 73? and 73? gether and to the outer end of a radius link 72*, while the extensions 70 and Y71 are pivoted together andto the outer end of p a radius link 7 2 these links being pivotedat When the vehicle is rerespectively, secured to the .boom structure. Pivoted tothe opposite sides of the bucket 70 are the links 74 and 74?; While in a similar manner the bucket half 71 is at its oppo site sides pivoted tolinks 75 and 7 5', re-

spectively. The outer ends of links 7 4 and o 7 5 are pivoted to the outer end of the crossbeam 34 on the boom structure, while the links 74 and 7 5 are. pivoted at their outer ends-to the end of the other beam 34. Pivoted betweenthe inner ends of the links 74? and 7 4 is'a sheave 7 6, and pivoted between the outer endsjofthe links 7 5 and 75 is a sheave 7 7 the hoistingcable 41 passing first about sheave 76, then about sheave 7 7, and then being anchored to the inner endof link structure 74, 74 The bucket supporting links are preferably all of the samev length r link structures to be drawn together, this-1 resulting inswing of the bucket halves to closedposition. The bucket structures are also preferably so weightedthat when the hoisting cableis slacked the bucket halves will swing to openposition by the force of gravity. In order to assist in guiding, the hoisting cable, a sheave 7 8 may be journaled between the inner ends of the beams 34,

rang. 1 the an. lines shovv'the boom a raised and the bucket closed, while the dotted linesshow the boom lowered and the bucket open. I edges of the open halves on the ground G The bucket rests with the I to be excavated. Tension is then applied to the hoisting cable by operating the hoist ing drum, such tensioncausing the bucket halves tobe brought together in. a manner above described, the bucket edges digging earth the weight of the bucket together with into'and scooping up the earth. Onyloose the weight of the boom thereon will be sufli cient to cause the bucket to dig in and scoop up when the hoisting rope is thus tensioned. l/Vhere the ground is harder, orJother obstructions are encountered, the weight on the bucket can be increased by locking the beam 54, the greater part of the vehicle structurev being then available to resist rais- .If, in order to reach the dumping destination, itis necessary to revolve the supporting structure, thewheel 9. is blocked and the various clutch. mechanisms controlledv a V ing of th boom, whereupon the bucket bucket. Thebucket halves-'70 and 71 of the great pressure.

cable remaining slack during such lowering or" the boom in order that the bucket may engage the ground in its open POSltlOIL The hoisting drum is then again operated to effect first closing and filling of the bucket and then raising of the boom in the manner described. The fixed pivot arrangement of the bucket halves relative to the boom struc' V ture gives the bucket definite position at all times with reference to the boom structure and the bucket can be accurately guided into engagement with the material to be excavated or conveyed. The fixed connection of the bucket also makes it possible to apply the greater part of the weight of the entire bucket supporting structure to the bucket, the bucket being then able to dig into comparatively hard earth and to readily overcome other obstructions without overstraining any supporting structure parts.

The inner ends of the radius links 72 and 72 are preferably provided with a plurality of pivot holes as indicated in order that the radius length can be varied to thereby change the angle of the bucket mechanism with reference to the boom. The

bucket can thus be adjusted on the boom so that when the boom is lowered the bucket half edges will engage in the best possible manner with the material to be excavated.

It will also be noted that the hoisting tower 4:3 and the standard supporting the brake mechanism for locking beam 54, are secured only at their lower end to the ve hicle framework. These parts are therefore more or less yielding and free to give, the result being that the various excavating, hoisting and dumping operations are free from jars and jerks.

I do not of course desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described as changesand modifications might be possible which would still come within the scope of the invention.

I claim the following:

1. In an excavator, the combination of a vehicle body having an axle and two propulsion wheels thereon, a bucket supporting boom, extending from said axle, a source of power on said body, driving connections between said source and said propulsion wheels, and means for locking one of said wheels against propulsion and for allowing propulsion only of the other wheel to efiect rotation of the vehicle body about the locked wheel as a center.

2. In an excavator, the combination of a vehicle body, an axle, propulsion wheels on said axle, a boom mounted on said axle, a driving shaft section connected with the respective wheels and connected by differential drive mechanism, a source of power on said vehicle body having connection with said differentialdriving mechanism, and means for locking one of said wheels against propulsion and for allowing propulsion of the other wheel whereby to eflfect rotation of saidvehicle body about the locked wheel as 'a center.

3. In an excavator, the combination of supporting body, an axle, two supporting wheels on said axle, a source of power on said supporting body, a driving train for connecting said source with one of said wheels and means for locking the other wheel against rotation whereby said body may be rotated about the locked wheel as a center, and excavating mechanism supported on the axle adjacent one of said wheels.

4:. In an excavator, the combination of a supporting body, an'axle, supporting wheels on said axle, a driving source on said body,

means for connecting either of said wheels in driving relation with said source and for preventing drive of the other wheel, and hoisting mechanism supported on one end of said axle.

5. In an excavator, the combination of an axle and a wheel pivoted at either end thereof, a vehicle body supported on said axle, a boom supported on said axle, a hoisting drum rotatable on said axle, a source of power on said body, means for connecting Q said source in driving relation with eith r of said wheels, and means for connecting said source in driving relation with said drum. y

6. in an excavator, the combination of an axle, propulsion wheels on said axle, a body supported on said axle, a driving source on said body and means for connecting said source in driving connection with said wheels, a boom pivoted on said axle and adapted to swing in the vertical plane of the axle, a hoisting drum for said boom, and means for connecting said source in dri *ing relation with saiddrum.

7. In an excavator, the combination of a :vehicle structure comprisin a bod and an axle and wheels at the ends or" said axle, a boom pivoted to sald axle and adapted to swing onlyin the vertical plane thereof, con

trolling mechanism for the boom on said vehicle structure, and means for operating said mechanism.

8. In an excavator, the combination with a supporting structure comprising a body, an axle, and a wheel at each end of the axle,

of driving means on the;structure,.means for connecting said driving means in driving relation with either wheel and meansfor preventing rotation of the other wheel whereby said structure may be revolved about the latter wheel, a boom" mounted on one end of said axle, and controlling, and operating mechanism, for said boom mounted on the vehicle structure. 7

I 9; In an excavator, the 'combination-i'vit'ha main supporting structure comprlsing a" body, a main axle, a traction wheel at each end of said axle,.an'dsteering mechanism, of two diiferentlal driving shaft sections and a driving train from each section to the corresponding wheel, differential drive mechanism connecting said sections and a driving source for said differential mechanism, a hoisting drum rotatable on said axle adjacent one of said wheels and a driving train v body, a main axle, a' traction'wheel at each end of said axle, and steering mechanism, of two diflerential driving shaft sections and a driving train from each section to the cor-' responding wheel, differential drive 1118011211? nism connecting said sections and a driving source for said differential mechanism, a hoisting drum rotatable on said axle adjacent one of said wheels and a driving train from said drum to the differential driving shaft section associated with said wheel, clutch mechanism for connecting either said wheel driving train or the drum driving train with said driving shaft section,means for locking either driving shaft section against rotation, a'bucket supporting boom pivoted at one end of said axle and a cable passing from said drum to said boom.

11. In an excavator, the combination with a main supporting structure comprising a body, a main axle, a traction wheel at each end of said axle, and steering mechanism, of two differential driving shaft sections and a driving train from each section to the corresponding wheel, differential drive mechanism connecting said sections and'a driving source for said differential mechanism, a hoisting drum rotatable on said axle adjacent one of said wheels and a driving train fromsaid drum to the differential driving shaft section associated with said Wheel, clutch mechanism for connecting either said wheel driving train or the drum driving against rotation, a bucket supporting boom pivotedat one end ofsaid axle'to swing only in the vertical plane of said axle, anda-a cable 3 extending from said drum to said boon.

' 12. 1mm excavator, the combination with a 'main supporting structure comprising abody, a main axle, a traction wheel at each end of'sa d axle, and steeringmechanism, of

two differential driving shaftsectionsand a" 'train with said driving'shaft section, 'means for locking either driving shaft section driving train from each section to the corre- Y s ondin 'wheel differential ,drive inech anism connecting said sections anda driving source for. said differential mechanism, a hoisting drum rotatable on said axle adjacent one of said wheels and a driving train from said drum to the differential driving'shaft section associated with said wheel, clutch 'mechanism for connecting either said Wheel driving train or the drum driving train wlth said drlvmg shaft section, means for locking either drlving shaft section against rotation, a bucket supporting boom mounted 1 on said supporting structure, a cable extending from said drum to said boom, and means for locking one of said wheels against rotation. 1 I

13. In an excavator, the combination of a supporting structure, a boom structure pivoted on said structure to swing in a vertical plane, two link structures pivoted at I their outer ends to said boom structure and sheaves journaled at the inner ends of said link structures, a bucket half journaled to each link structure intermediate its ends, a

radius link structure pivoted at its inner end to the boom Vstructure'and pivoted at its outer end tothe inner ends of the bucket halves, a hoisting drum onsaid supporting structure, and a holsting cable extending;

from said drum, said hoisting cable looping about both said sheaves and anchored at its outer end to one of said link structures, the

' pivot connections being such that tension on the hoisting cable will tend to swing the link structures together to effect rotation of the bucket halves to closed position.

14. In an excavator, the combination of a vehicle body having anr axle, propulsion wheels on the ends of said axle, a boom pivoted on said axle adjacent one wheel, a tower extending verticallv from the axle adjacent the other wheel, a hoisting drum' onsaid axle adjacent said tower and a cable extending therefrom'to said boom, driving mechanism, and means for selectively con necting said driving mechanism with said propulsion wheels or said drum. I

15. In an excavating machine, the combination of a vehicle'body having an axle, propulsion wheels mounted at the ends of said axle, a boom pivoted on the outer end of said axle adjacent one wheel and a standard mounted on said axle adj acent said Wheel, a beam pivoted to said boom and In Witness whereof; I hereunto subscribe slidably supported on said standard, brake my name this 31st day of January, A. D. l mechanism'for contrcgling said beam, a 1914.

hoistin drum mounte on said axle ad'a- 1 T 11 cent said other Wheel a cable eXtendi ng OLA} ILLETLESAETER' from said drum to said boom, and driving Witnesses:

mechanism adapted to be connected with CHARLES J. SCHMIDT,

said driving Wheels or said drum. e EDMUND G. INGERSOLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

- Washington, D. C. a 

